She sat in her cozy chair by the window, cocio in hand, and engrossed in reading the chronicle about werewolves. The words flowed through her mind as she mumbled them to herself, completely immersed in her reading.
"Willow." The unexpected sound of her name made her jump in her chair. She looked up, startled, and there stood Jack in the doorway to the balcony. In his hand, he held one of her winter coats, a slight frown on his face.
" I have have a job. Wanna come?" His question hung in the air, and Willow quickly glanced at the clock. It was past ten in the evening.
Curiosity piqued, she closed the chronicle and got up from her chair. "Sure, where are we going?"
"New Zealand. Dress warmly." As he threw the grey capelet jacket at her.
With wide eyes a smile crept onto her face, as she put it on.
Jack reached out his hand and Willow wondered about for a split second how quick she had just started taking it as she did it.
Blinking, Willow shivered as a strong cold wind swept through the area, tousling her hair as she took in the wintery scenery of New Zealand. The stone streets were blanketed with a layer of pristine snow, and the overcast grey sky threatened more snowfall. Jack guided her across the street through a bustling crowd, and they approached a pub, a young man leaning against the wall stared at them with wide eyes, as they walked through the closed door. Willow wondered if he was survivor of dead or one of those souls caught in the part of the veil called limbo.
They entered the dimly room, which was filled with rowdy patrons, their voices competing to be heard. The air was thick with the sour scent of alcohol and smoke, creating an atmosphere that made Willow question how people could already be so drunk at this hour as it was far earlier than on the island.
Every seat and couch was taken and the bartender fully occupied behind the bar, while people talked loudly to outshout one another.
Jack led her through the crowded pub and into a narrow hallway. She reached for his hand, grateful that they were in the veil, as they approached a door at the far end of the hallway.
The next room they entered was smaller, with heavy red smoke hanging in the air. Round tables were scattered about, and people were engrossed in card games. In one corner, a bar was packed with boisterous customers.
"What is this place?" Willow wondered aloud as they walked past a table with a young girl slouched back in the chair with completely black eyes.
"A bar for supernaturals." He mumbled, his eyes darting around the room. "We are here to pick up a-" His voice trailed off as his eyes widened, and he pulled her close by the hip, his attention fixed on something happening in the corner of the room.
Do not leave my side and don't say a word.
She heard him say as even though she now could block him out he could still send messages.
Her gaze followed his, landing on a red couch in the corner. There sat a tall girl with short light blonde hair, clad in a brown leather jacket over a red crop top and dark pants. However, what truly captured Willow's attention were her blood red eyes, fixed intently on her phone.
"Her eyes.... they-they are red..." Willow whispered, as Jack started to pull her backwards. "is she hungry?" She looked at the unconscious man across her lap.
"She was hungry, cause Evelyn just ate." the girl said, her voice nonchalant as she continued to focus on her phone. Her casual response startled Willow, and she didn't bother to look up from her device. Jack halted in his retreat, his grip around Willow's waist tightening. "And just like a normal reaper can I see into the veil so stop acting coy and show yourself to the people. What do you want Jack?"
The room fell into an eerie silence, every eye now on them as Willow realized the truth, the girl was a rogue. Jack had taken them out of the veil, revealing their presence to everyone present.
Stay close.
Jack crossed his arms, maintaining a nonchalant smile as he faced the rogue reaper named Evelyn.
"Talk," he titled his head slightly with a grin. "You caused quite the problem, going around killing people who weren't due."
Evelyn responded with a short, amused laugh, reclining on the couch and pushing the unconscious body off her lap. Her demeanor was anything but concerned.
"Is anyone due before we get our hands on them? And don't talk bullshit to me Jack, we both know you didn't know I was here." She taunted. Willow had read about reapers' inability to locate other reapers' positions, especially rogue ones, which explained why Jack had been caught off guard. Even though he tried to hide it, he was clearly unprepared to meet Evelyn. Evelyn's attention then shifted to Willow. "Another Weber? And the sweet little Willow of all people? But Jack thought you were told to stay away from her?" She tsked and smiled, causing Willow to furrow her brow. The word 'another' piqued her curiosity, and she wondered if Evelyn had been sent to reap another person from her bloodline.
"Another Weber?" she mumbled more to herself.
"You don't know?" her eyes widened in false surprise.
"Evelyn, shut up, you don't know what you're talking about," Jack snarled, abruptly turning on his heel. "Let's go"
Willow exchanged a glance between Jack and the rogue reaper, puzzled by how Evelyn seemed to know who she was. Reapers were supposed to have knowledge of every person in the realms, but rogue reapers lost many of their powers, including the ability to know people's deaths. So, how did Evelyn know who she was?
Evelyn, however, didn't seem inclined to let the matter drop. "I don't? I hadn't left the island before the whole disaster with Malte, and even I know of the little secret you were apparently quite bad at hiding. You should be glad none of us decided to visit, as I can imagine Darlia was quite scared, we would," she grinned, tilting her head lazily.
Willow took a step forward but was halted by Jack's outstretched hand, his whole body tense. "How do you know my dad's name?" Willow pushed his hand away as Evelyn laughed out loud. "And what secret?"
"You seriously haven't been told?" Evelyn's eyes gleamed with self-satisfaction as Jack reached for Willow, saying they're leaving. "Your dad was a companion," she said just before Jack grabbed Willow, and Willow moved out of reach.
"What?" Willow croaked, wide-eyed, staring blankly at Evelyn until the realization hit her. She turned her gaze to Jack as she took a step away from him. "She's... She's lying, right? My dad died in that car accident when I was fou-" She was cut off as she felt a blade press against her throat, and she heard Jack growl loudly. The room fell silent once more, except for a few gasps.
"Now, I know you probably already called for backup, so me and Willow will leave, and nobody gets hurt," Evelyn smiled, her hand around Willow's waist, pressing her tightly against her chest. Jack motioned to take a step forward. "Don't. Move. Jack, I am not below killing a companion if it means saving my own ass," she snarled right by Willow's ear, making Jack freeze.
"It's a bad idea to threaten a reaper, so let her go now and I will let you live," Jack growled, showing off his fangs. "Don't be stupid Evelyn, this is not what you want." He flashed her a threatening smile, sharp as a knife.
"What I want is to be left alone." She snarled, tightening her grip around Willow, who thrashed around, until the blade was pressed into the soft skin on her neck once more.
"If you wanted that, you had kept under the radar, joined inferos or something, not joined the MortÃfera. And not being stupid enough to touch a companion." Jack snarled, letting a reaper blade appear in his trembling hand. "Let. her. go. Now. "his voice was a low, dangerous growl, his eyes flashing red.
"Well, it ended well for the last one who touched a companion from what I remember," Evelyn grinned, the blade getting under the ribbon around Willow's neck, as if she wanted to cut it off. "It was after all Dorothy that was killed by Death because she lost Malte."
Willow's eyes widened at Evelyn's words, tears forming as her fingers began to tremble around Evelyn's arm. That was the name of the reaper Jack had said had been her family's reaper.
Blinking rapidly to keep her tears from blinding her, she found herself near a sunlit beach, standing on a roof overlooking the sparkling sea.
"Let me go!" She squirmed, at this point not caring if Evelyn was gonna kill her or not.
"Don't move, if you behave I might take you to your dad," Evelyn snarled, dragging Willow after her. She seemed not to notice Willow's attempts to push her away. "I need to get that collar off you or into the void quickly." Evelyn mumbled more to herself. Suddenly, a roar echoed nearby.
"Evelyn!" The voice was filled with anger and panic as Jack appeared on the street below. He jumped up to the roof, his black jacket billowing around him. His boots slammed onto the smooth roof tiles, and his red eyes locked onto Evelyn as he bared his teeth.
"I'm not warning you again, let her go or you will get a fate worse than your second dead." he growled. His usual demeanor had vanished, replaced by a predator's intensity and determination. Even Evelyn, holding onto Willow's shoulder, trembled but refused to release her.
Upon refusal, Jack lunged toward them, his eyes wide and fierce. Suddenly, something pushed Willow hard from behind, causing Evelyn to scream in surprise. Willow was wrenched from Evelyn's grip, and Jack caught her just before she hit the ground. He swiftly moved out of reach, crouching down with Willow safely in his lap.
"Are you okay?" He whispered, scanning her from injuries before touching the collar as if to check it wasn't gone. Willow nodded and turned her attention to Evelyn, who was now on her knees with Ian firmly holding her down. Ian's eyes mirrored Jack's in their crimson intensity as he held a gleaming blade against Evelyn's neck.
"If you're going to kill me, hurry up and do it I haven't gotten all day. Oh wait, that's right you can't kill me." She smirked, but hissed when Ian cut her across the cheek.
Willow pulled herself out of Jack's safe arms and walked towards Evelyn and Ian, pushing Jack's hands away.
"What do you mean with seeing my dad?" She snarled, pretty sure she was lying to save her own ass. "My dad is death! He died!"
"is he?" she grinned as Ian pulled her up to her feet.
Willow glanced back at Jack who refused to meet her gaze, and her heart sank.
Her dad was alive? And with those rouges? The rogues in MortÃfera? The rogue reapers set out to destroy Reapers Island for some reason and any companion or BustyrÃa that may live there if what she read was true? The group led by the first rogue?
Evelyn suddenly jerked forward, wielding in her hand. Ian let out a painful grunt as she jumped away with a wicked grin on her face. Willow's yes widened at the sight of a reaper dagger lodged in Ian's stomach and Jack lounged towards Willow.
"Say hello to Marek from me." Evelyn grinned, clutching the side where the wound was before vanishing. Willow just stood there numb, wondering why her family was so targeted, and most of all why Jack had the audacity not to tell her, her dad wasn't dead.
Ian, now stained with blood from the wound, pulled the dagger out and ran his blood-soaked gloved fingers through his hair.
"You okay?" Jack asked, and Ian nodded with a grimace before he turned to her. "Willow," Jack reached for her, but she pulled away, not even looking at him.
Hi guys, hope you like the story so far! Plz drop a comment if you doâ¤ï¸